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Animals That Start With D

discus
Image by Rethinktwice via pixabay.com

Welcome to animals that start with D. We compiled a list of these animals that are found around the world – even close to you! So let’s get going and have a look at the animals that start with D list, shall we?

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Overview of animals that start with D

1. Dung Beetle

Dung beetle
Dung beetle (Deltochilum mexicanum) 3, Colombia. Image via Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameScarabaeidae family
Where it LivesWorldwide, primarily in grasslands, forests, and savannas
What it EatsDetritivores, primarily feed on dung from mammals
Conservation StatusNot assessed for all species

Fun Fact: Dung beetles might be able to orient themselves using the stars of the Milky Way.

Dung Beetles are also known as the scarab. This beetle is famous for its penchant for rolling excrement from place to place.

These animals are picky about their food, as they do not eat just any random pile of feces.

2. Duck

Mallard duck
Male mallard duck with green face and yellow bill. Image via I, Acarpentier, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameAnatidae family
Where it LivesDiverse habitats including lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal regions
What they EatOmnivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, insects, small fish, and crustaceans
Conservation StatusVaries by species, some are of least concern while others may be threatened due to habitat loss and hunting

Fun Fact: Ducks can sleep with one eye open for protection.

Ducks can be found on every continent but Antarctica. Ducks have webbed feet and waterproof feathers to survive in their near-aquatic habitats.

They are omnivores that eat fish, crustaceans, insects, and seeds.

3. Drumfish

drum fish
drum fish fish proudly waves its tiny “dorsal banner” over the coral reef. Image via LASZLO ILYES (laszlo-photo) from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameSciaenidae family
Where it LivesFound in coastal waters, estuaries, and along sandy or muddy bottoms
What they EatCarnivorous, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks
Conservation StatusNot assessed for all species, but some may be impacted by overfishing and habitat degradation

Fun Fact: Drumfishes get their names from the loud drum-like sounds they make with their swim bladders.

Drumfishes are usually found in saltwater, but some species live in freshwater. The saltwater species are generally larger than their freshwater counterparts.

The Drumfish is bottom-dwelling and feeds on crustaceans, fishes, and insects along lake floors.

4. Dragonfish

dragonfsih
The head of a preserved specimen of the Tentacle dragonfish. Image via Naturalis Biodiversity Center, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameFamily Stomiidae
Where it LivesDeep-sea environments, primarily in oceanic waters
What it EatsCarnivorous, feeding on small fish and crustaceans
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: Dragonfishes have red chlorophyll in their eyes, with which they attract prey.

Dragonfish get their name from their fearsome appearance. Dragonfishes have large heads, broad jaws, and terrifying teeth.

Male Dragonfishes are nearly ten times the size of females. Most of them don’t have scales.

5. Draco Volans Lizard

draco volans
Draco volans are well known for flying. Image via Depositphotos
Scientific NameDraco volans
Where it LivesSoutheast Asia, primarily in tropical forests
What it EatsInsectivorous, feeds on ants and other small insects
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: Draco Volans Lizards can glide for about 26 feet.

Draco Volans is Latin for flying dragon. This lizard has a winglike membrane supported by its ribs. But the Draco Volans Lizard doesn’t really fly. Instead, it glides.

These lizards spend most of their days in trees, and the males are territorial.

6. Douc

Douc
Red-shanked Douc in Philadelphia Zoo, USA. Image via fPat Murray from Philadelphia, U S A! -_-, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NamePygathrix spp.
Where it LivesSoutheast Asia, primarily in tropical forests
What it EatsHerbivorous, primarily feeds on leaves, fruits, and flowers
Conservation StatusVaries by species, some are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting

Fun Fact: Douc populations were drastically affected by the Vietnam War and have yet to be replenished.

Douc monkeys can be found in Indochina and can be called a langur. It is one of the most colorful monkeys globally, with coats in white, red, and gray shades.

7. Donkey

Donkey
Donkey (Equus africanus asinus) at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada. Image via Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameEquus africanus asinus
Where it LivesWorldwide, domesticated in various regions
What it EatsHerbivorous, mainly graze on grasses and forage
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: Donkeys can bond to other farm animals, and separating a bonded donkey can lead to death.

Donkeys have been domesticated for more than 5000 years. They can be seen in almost all parts of the world.

Donkeys used to be called asses until the word fell out of use —for obvious reasons.

8. Dolphin

dolphin
Dolphins are highly social animals. Image by Joe Boyne via Pexels
Scientific NameDelphinidae spp.
Where it LivesOceans worldwide, often found in coastal regions
What it EatsCarnivorous, feeding on fish, squid, and crustaceans
Conservation StatusVaries by species, some are threatened by habitat loss and fishing activities

Fun Fact: Dolphin brains are larger than those of humans.

Dolphins are known to be playful, intelligent sea mammals. But if you don’t, you’re in for a treat. These animals are so smart that some have been trained to help humans even as early as the 1960s

9. Discus

Discus
discus fish huddle up together in Minsk Zoo. Image via Хомелка, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameSymphysodon spp.
Where it LivesSouth America, primarily in the Amazon River basin
What it EatsOmnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, algae, and plant matter
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: The Discus can change colors based on environmental conditions and mood.

Discus are fish that mainly live in the waters of the Amazon basin. They are colorful and quite popular as aquarium fishes for that.

10. Dingo

Dingo
The iconic Australian dingo, which is commonly found on the largest sand island in the word, Queensland’s Fraser Island. Image via Newretreads, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameCanis lupus dingo
Where it LivesFound primarily in Australia, across various habitats including forests, deserts, and grasslands
What it EatsCarnivorous, primarily hunting small mammals, birds, and sometimes scavenging on carrion
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: Only the alpha male and female Dingoes can mate in a pack.

Dingoes are indigenous wild dogs found on the Australian continent. These dogs exhibit the pack mentality and hunting styles of the wolf.

11. Dik-Dik

Dik-dik
Dik Dik eats on leaves, fruit but hardly any grass. Image by Tomas Malik via Unsplash
Scientific NameMadoqua genus spp.
Where it LivesFound in eastern and southern Africa, primarily in savannas and bushlands
What it EatsHerbivorous, feeding on leaves, shoots, fruits, and flowers
Conservation StatusVaries by species, some are of least concern while others may be threatened by habitat loss and hunting

Fun Fact: Dik-Diks are territorial and mark their turf with a liquid produced in sacs near their eyes.

Dik-diks can be found in Africa. The Dik-Dik is usually about 12-16 inches in height and may weigh as little as 15 pounds.

12. Dhole

Dhole
A dhole pup (Cuon alpinus alpinus) Kolmårdens djurpark, Sweden. Image via Johan Spaedtke, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameCuon alpinus
Where it LivesFound in various regions of Asia, including forests and grasslands
What it EatsCarnivorous, primarily hunting small to medium-sized prey such as deer and boar
Conservation StatusEndangered

Fun Fact: An adult Dhole can gorge itself on meat, then regurgitate it later to feed members of its pack.

Dholes are wild dogs that look like a cross between a gray wolf and a red fox. Dholes used to be widespread, but now, they can only be found in parts of Asia.

13. Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle

Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle
Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle (Ocypus olens) in Oberursel, Germany. Image via Quartl, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameOcypus olens
Where it LivesFound in Europe, particularly in wooded areas and gardens
What it EatsCarnivorous, preys on insects and other invertebrates
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: Devil’s Coach Horse Beetles can release an unpleasant gas as a defense mechanism against predators.

Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle has a name that is indicative of its interesting history. During the Middle Ages, people believed that this beetle could curse someone by pointing its tail in their direction.

Its fearsome appearance and painful bite may be the source of the superstition.

14. Desert Rain Frog

desert rain frog
Image of a rain frog in Limpopo, South Africa. Image via Ryanvanhuyssteen, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameBreviceps macrops
Where it LivesEndemic to the Namib Desert in southern Africa
What it EatsInsectivorous, feeding on small insects and arthropods
Conservation StatusData Deficient

Fun Fact: Desert Rain frogs don’t drink water. Instead, they absorb it through their skin.

Desert Rain frogs have distinctive and unique transparent skin. These animals usually live underneath the sand in South Africa and Namibia.

Desert Rain frogs can’t hop.

15. Desert Locust

Desert locust
Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) in solitary phase taken by Christiaan Kooyman in Niger in September 1990. Image via Christiaan Kooyman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameSchistocerca gregaria
Where it LivesFound in desert regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia
What it EatsPolyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of crops and vegetation
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: Locusts change colors when they gather, going from neutral shades to bright yellow.

Desert Locusts are similar to grasshoppers with their long hind legs and compound eyes, and are locusts capable of moving in swarms at speeds up to 21 miles per hour.

They can gather in groups of approximately 80 million, swiftly devouring entire grain fields within hours.

16. Deathwatch Beetle

deathwatch beetle
The death watch beetle the male produces knocking sounds in the wood, he lives in. Image via Gilles San Martin, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameXestobium rufovillosum
Where it LivesFound in various regions worldwide, often infesting timber structures
What it EatsWood-boring, feeding on seasoned hardwoods like oak and chestnut
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: The lifespan of an adult Deathwatch Beetle is just two months.

Deathwatch Beetle’s tapping on wooden walls used to be seen as an omen of death. But it is just a mating ritual.

The male Deathwatch Beetle taps on the wood and the female responds. They keep doing this till the male finds the female by tracing the direction of the taps.

17. Death’s Head Cockroach

cockroach
Death’s head cockroach in Warsaw Zoo. Image via Raf24~commonswiki, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameBlaberus craniifer
Where it LivesNative to Central and South America, commonly found in tropical forests
What it EatsOmnivorous, feeding on decaying organic matter, fruits, and vegetation
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: Death’s Head Cockroaches can live up to a year.

Death’s Head Cockroach is one insect that serves as a pet to some animal lovers. The Death’s Head Cockroach is native to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico.

These cockroaches can get up to two inches long. It gets its name from the black markings on its thorax.

18. Darwin’s Frog

Darwin's frog
Pregnant male Darwin’s frog. Image via Ong ranita, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameRhinoderma darwinii
Where it LivesEndemic to Chile and Argentina, found in temperate forests and grasslands
What it EatsInsectivorous, feeding on small insects and invertebrates
Conservation StatusEndangered

Fun Fact: Male Darwin’s frogs keep their young in their vocal sacs for 50-70 days.

Darwin’s frog is named after Charles Darwin, who discovered it on his ‘Voyage of Beagle.’ Darwin’s frogs are found in Chile and Argentina. But they can be hard to find, as they make themselves look like dried leaves.

19. Death Adder

Death adder
Death adder (Acanthophis praelongus ) crawling on gravel. Image via Gbro0501, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameAcanthophis spp
Where it LivesFound in various regions of Australia and nearby islands
What it EatsCarnivorous, primarily preying on small mammals, birds, and reptiles
Conservation StatusNot assessed

Fun Fact: The Death Adder has the longest fangs of any Australian snake.

Death adders are native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. These snakes are good at blending into their surroundings.

20. Darwin’s Fox

Darwin’s Fox
A male Darwin’s fox in western coast of Chiloe, Chile. Image via Fernando Bórquez, uploaded by Lin linao, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameLycalopex fulvipes
Where it LivesEndemic to Chile, found in forests and grasslands of Chiloé Island and nearby areas
What it EatsCarnivorous, feeding on small mammals, birds, and insects
Conservation StatusEndangered

Fun Fact: Darwin’s fox is endangered because humans used to hunt it for its pelt.

Darwin’s fox can be found in some parts of South America. Darwin’s foxes aren’t foxes; they just look like them.

Summary of Animals That Start With D

YouTube video
Animal names in English that begin with the letter D. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: kidO TV

We’ve come to the end of the list of animals that start with the letter D, and we hope you enjoyed it! Here is another interesting one for animals that start with O and look at Animals with T. See you there.

Here is a list of all animals with letters:

Thank you for reading!